Politically connected – and now a convicted rapist: Gurmeet Ram Rahim

A CBI court in Panchkula on Friday held Dera Sach Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim guilty of raping two of his former followers.

The controversial self-styled spiritual leader’s followers went on a rampage after the verdict was announced, leading security forces to disperse crowds with lathi charge and tear gas.

Here are 10 things to know about the flamboyant, larger-than-life baba:

1) Ram Rahim’s origins

The self-styled godman comes from a Jat Sikh family of Gurusar Modiya village in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan. Born in August 1967, Ram Rahim was initiated into the sect at age seven by his predecessor Shah Satnam Singh Maharaj.

2) Anointed at 23

He was anointed the sect head when he was barely 23. Having married early, the Dera head is said to have sacrificed his personal life for public service, and thus not much is known about it.

3) The prophecy behind his anointment

According to Dera chroniclers, the sect’s first mater Shah Mastana, in his last spiritual discourse in 1960, had indicated that seven years later he would reincarnate as the third master of the sect.

Initially the followers could not grasp his remarks. However, a parallel was drawn after the sangat (followers) found that Ram Rahim was born in 1967.

4) Ram Rahim, the child prodigy

Ram Rahim is considered a ‘child prodigy’ by his followers. The ysay he excelled in everything and even learnt driving when he was eight. Devout followers swear that though Ram Rahim’s studied up to high school, his spiritual powers ensured that he excelled in multiple tasks.

“One can see him acting in movies, throwing a javelin or playing football, crooning a religious number. An individual needs immense energy and talent to carry out so many tasks,’’ says a Dera manager. His foray into the world of cinema as the ‘Messenger of God’ was also an attempt to give him a larger-than-life image.

5) First brush with controversy

Ram Rahim’s first brush with controversy was in 2002 when an anonymous letter, purportedly written by a sadhvi, alleged sexual exploitation of woman followers in the Dera. The matter was probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the verdict in the case will be pronounced by the CBI court in Panchkula on Friday (August 25).

6) Criminal past

The central agency is also investigating into a couple of more cases involving Ram Rahim. These include the alleged murder of a Dera disciple, Ranjit Singh, who had reportedly spoken against the Dera head, a murder case pertaining to the killing of a Sirsa-based journalist, Ram Chander Chhatarpati whose ‘Poora Sach’ vernacular was vociferous about Dera’s “unlawful activities”.

Dera followers and administrators in the past have defended the cases, saying their de-addiction campaigns did not go down well with many leading to such conspiracies. They also blame politics and politicians for their troubles.

7) Political clout

Since the Dera has a huge following, Ram Rahim enjoys tremendous political clout. Politicians of all shades call on the Dera head to seek his “blessings” during the elections and the Dera also obliges them whole-heartedly. In fact, its move to have a political affairs wing indicates the Dera’s growing political aspirations of the sect. In the 2014 assembly elections in Haryana, the Dera came out in the support of the BJP, a factor which tilted the scales in favour of the saffron party and helped it form the government on its own for the first time.

8) Controversy’s favourite

A criminal case was lodged against Ram Rahim in 2007 in the wake of his alleged act of imitating the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh at a public function in Salabatpura, Bathinda that enraged the Sikh Panthic bodies.

The incident set off widespread violent clashes between radical Sikhs and Dera followers in Punjab and Haryana. As the radicals demanded his head, the Dera chief had a narrow escape in February 2008 when his cavalcade was attacked in Karnal. Later, a Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) operative and six others were arrested and sentenced to imprisonment in the case.

The after-effects of the controversy resonated for many years as Sikhs and premis (Dera followers) clashed time and again, creating niggling law and order situation.

9) Humanitarian work

The Dera has its share of accolades and brickbats. While the socio-spiritual organisation has earned applause for humanitarian work such as blood donation, eye donation, rehabilitation of prostitutes, relief operations during calamities,

10) Conviction

After the CBI’s court order today, which means Ram Rahim could face up to 7 years in prison, violence broke out as his followers pelted stones and set fire to fire engines and OB vans near the site. The court will announce the quantum of the punishment on Monday.

1 COMMENT

Judges in India have to show that they are competent and can make their judgements for the cases with in one year otherwise we cannot trust their decisions after 15 years whether it is right or wrong.Indian Governments have to improve the system . BJP cannot keep on blaming for life the congress party. BJP is in Power , show us what you can do now.